Card game



Nov. 17, 1925- H. T-. COX

CARD GAME Filed April 2, 1925 INVENTOR A. 7. C0

I ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 17, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT or er-cs.

HERBERTEHOMAS 'COX, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

oAnn GAME.

Application ,filed April 2, 1925. Serial. No. 20,238.

main suits to form combinations which will eventuallyresult in a predetermined number of cards designating the winner.

This invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description, in view of the accompanying drawing forming a part of the specification; nevertheless it is to be understood that the invention is not confined to the disclosure, being susceptible of such changes and modifications which .shall define no material departure from the salient features of the invention as eXpresed in the appended claims.

In the drawings, 7

Figure 1 shows a plan View oi a plurality of one series of honor suits designated as green backs.

Figure 2 is a plan view of a series of. another honor suit designating industries.

Figure 3 shows a plan View of a series of honor cards distinguished by fruits.

Figure t discloses a series of an honor suit designated as gram. 7 Figure 5 shows an individual S1111? card designated as the bank.

Figure 6 shows a series of suit cards and a captain card designated by automobiles.

Figure 7 shows another series of suit cards designated by ships, with a captain card.

Figure 8 shows another series of suit cards designated by aeroplanes, with its captain card.

Figure 9 shows a series of directional cards employed in the game.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, a group series of the cards areshown by Figures 1 to 4 inclusive which are de ibed as honor cards, with each honor suit containing four cards. In Figure .-1 a green back card designated by the numeral 1 is one of a series of honor cards of which there are four in number andlwhich .are numerically designated as 1 to 4t inclusivev In Figure 2 is shown another group of honor cards numbered 1 to 4 and representing theindu stries such as manufacturing, oil, fishing and mining and respectively designated by the numerals 2, 3, 4 and 5. These cards have a single illustration printed in blue.

In Figure 3 is shown four .other honor cards printed in redand generally represent ing a broad class of fruits with-the sub-' combinations or the fruits disclosed by an illustration of one particular fruit on each card such as strawberries, apples, cherries and grapes, the cards being respectively designated by the numeralsfi, 7, 8 and 9. The third class of honor cards of which there are four in number are printed in yellow and illustrate sub-classes of ,thegelleral classes of grains and .as such the card designated by the numeral 10 represents wheat, the other three cards designated respectively by the numerals 11, 12 and 13 represent barley, oats and corn.

The suit cards shown in Figures .5 to 8 inclusive are printed-in blackand one of the suit cards 14 represents a bank. It .Wlll be noted that this card is not numbered since only one card is employed in the game. In Figure 6 a suit card is shown having an illustration of an automobile and there are five of these cards numbered from 1 to 5 inclusive witha set of fo-ur-ofeach num- V bered card. In other words, there will be QOautomobile cards and which are designated bythe numeral 15. For each set of automobile cards there is a captain card designated by the numeral 16 having an illustration similar to the card 15 but having pair of automobiles and with a letter C as shown at 17 replacing the nume al shown at 18 in the card 15.

The cards shown in Figures and v 8. together with the card shown in Figure 6, represent modes-oi travel and as such belong to the broad class under such title with the individual modes represented by each series oi cards. In Figure/7, suit card designated. by the numeral 19, has opposed illustrations .95 the indicia- Captain printed between the on its face showing a method of travel on water and represented by a sailingvessel.

These cards are likewise numbered from 1 to 5 inclusive. A captain card 20 distinguished by the indicia Captain is also employed in this group. The third group of cards in the mode of travelling is illustrated by a pair of aeroplanes in opposed relation and these cards 21 are also numbered 1 to 5. A captain card 22 is also provided which may be substituted for any one of this group during the game.

In Figure 9 is disclosed what I term a directional card indicated by the numeral 23. Two of these cards respectively designated by the numerals 2e and 25, are provided with indicia such as Retailer and l Vholesaler. Upon the backs of the retailerand wholesaler cards of which there is one apiece is printed the word Director as shown in card 23. The cards 23, of which there are six in number, have their faces blank and play no important part in the playing of the game other than aiding in properly distributing in a secret manner the retailer and wholesaler cards. It will thus be seen that there are eight directional cards as will be presently described. The retailer and wholesaler cards when drawn will indicate the players who aid in initiating the game.

Rules of play The game is played always as individuals and not as partners, and may be played by two, three or four players. Four players are the preferable number and the following procedure applies for such a number of players.

The shufiia-The eighty cards are all placed face down in a pile loosely, and are stirred about with the hands to thoroughly mix them. Then they are placed in one pile in the center of the table. Another method suggested is that each player take approximately one-fourth of the cards and shuffle his portion and then the four shuffled portions can be placed in one pile in the center the the table. v

Dealing the cards-The cards having been thoroughly shuflled and placed as instructed, the directors cards, eight in numher, are shuffled and dealt around one at a time face up to all of the players, thus supplying two to each player. The deal is made by any one of the players.

The player obtaining the wholesaler card now takes the pack from the table and bewith himself deals the cards around -..own to his left into four piles, one in front of each player. These four piles are called supply bases.

The player having the retailer card takes the supply base in front of him, which is known as supply base No. 1, and deals to hi right one card at a time until each player has eight cards. l Vhen base No. 1 is exhausted, he picks up the first base pile to his right and continues until the eight are dealt to each player.

The supply bases are numbered from one to four, beginning with the retailers as No. 1 and passing around to his right, 23&. The same player may draw both wholesaler and retailer cards; in that case he acts as each.

Object of the ga'mc.The cards with the exception of the greenbacks have no value individually but only as they appear in scoring combinations in the players hand. The winner of the game is the player who first, by means of a series of draws and discards, obtains a complete hand, containing as many counting combinations as possible.

A completed hamZ.A complete hand is made up of combinations of three or four, and, one pair, eight cards in all except for each greenback orset of four of a kind, the hand will contain one more card than eight. Three or more suit cards of a kind count as a combination; two may be used as a pair but do not count. Two or more honor cards of a kind count, but one each of two kinds can not be counted as a pair. Each greenback counts individually only and not in combination. As soon as a combination of three of a kind is obtained it must be played out in front, i. e. laid face up in front of the rack.

PZa'yz'ng.Each player takes his hand which is the eight cards dealt by the retailer, and places them on the back of his rack facing him, arranging them in groups according to the kind to aid in playing. The retailer begins the game by drawing the top card from the supply base, which was partially used in the deal, and discarding either one of his other cards or the one just drawn. lVhen he discards he plays the card face up in the center of the table, and calls it out by name, so that the other players may see and hear.

If no player cares to take the discarded card, the next player to his right or Number 2, plays in the same manner by drawing); the top card from the same supply base, and discarding one to the center of the table in the same manner as the retailer had done. Then the player to the right of the second player or Number 3 plays in the same manner, and so on, each player retaining the cards that he thinks will be most valuable in completing his hand, until. one player completes his hand. and wins.

When a player has completed his hand he announces it by calling out I sell out, and then all players place their cards on the front of their rack n a row face up, and the scores are counted.

The order of play is always to the right. hand or counter-clockwise from the retailer who is the first player. and the cards are drawn from the top of the supply If no one completes a hand before all p the cards are drawn each player then places his cards out and the score ofeach player is counted.

The procedure for every player in his regular turn of play is to draw one card from the supply base and discard one card, but if he has taken a discarded card when it was his turn to play, then he does not draw from the supply base but must discard one to finish his play. draw until the preceding players discard has been placed face up on the table and has his hand removed from it; also no player can discard-until after he has drawn a card or bought the previously discarded card.

If any playershould have a pair of cards similar to a card discarded by a player, he

' can take it by saying, I buy. He then plays out his combination in front of his rack and discards one card from his rack. The play then passes to the next player to his right, and if any players intervene between him and the one who discarded the captured, card they lose their turn. After a card is bought a player must discard but does not draw a card from the supply base until his next turn.

The special cards.-In the suit cards are theeaptains, onein each suit, which may be used as any other number in that suit to complete a combination, if two cards of like number are held, or the captain can be used to make a pair with one other card and in so doing a player can sell out. A; captain can not be bought unless two like cards of the same suitand same number are held with which to match it to com plete a combination of three, or to match" with a single card of that suit when it completes a pair so that a player may sell out, Examples :If a player has two ts of automobiles, he can buy the captain of automobiles to make three ts, or if he shouldhave one 4 of automobiles and need only to complete that pair to sell out he may buy the captain to complete the pair the bankers card for that card which needed and sell out.- The players score is counted using the bankers card in its sub sti'tuted place and then his total score doubled,

No player can The honor cm"(Z8. II1: the honor-i cards-of fruits, grains or industries, two of: a; suitcount in the score when used as a pair to complete a hand, but three of: asuit must be used to complete a, combinatiom/the same as the regular suits, that-is, two grains will count when they complete a hand as a )air," or three gramsused as acombination, there being only four grams in the pack. he

two of the cards of course willhave the same I An honor card can no? I picture or number. be bought when discarded unless the player buying it holds two cards of'that suit on his rack. f i a The greenbacks upon being drawn are immediately placed out in front of the rack and another card drawn from the bottom of the supply base. No. .4 to take its place, and then one card is discarded. Each greenback counts 3except if a player draws-the greenback with the number corresponding with the number ofv his supply base it countsdouble or six points. e

which applies to all hands, is'as follows,

- v Points. Three of-a kind (of 1, 2, 3, or 4-) of the "he method of counting the suit cards I same'suit ;o 3 I Three 5s of the same suit 5 Four of a kind (of 1, 2, 3, or 4) of the;

same suit n i 5 Four 5s of the same suit 10 Honor cards:

7 Points. Two of a suit of fruit," grains, or in'- dustries 3 I Three of a suit of'fruit, grains or in? v dustries 5' Four of a suit of, fruit, grains, or. in-f dustries 10E" Greenbacks'each counts 3 Greenback of players own number supply base 6 Bank card doublesthe players score.

The game. The cards are playedarouncl four times'or in other words four completed I hands are played. and then the scores earned: by each player are; addeolr. and the/player having the highest score is the winner. ofthe game. v

Drawing a fourth 0(l7i'd. I f a player has three cards forming a, combination on the front ofhisrack exposed and should draw a fourth card of that suit he maylay it out alsowith the, other three-and draw one card from the'bottom; of supply base No. a to; take its place and thenrliscard one card as is donewhena greenback is drawn. The fourthq'card materiallytincigeases the value of the combination. 'The fourth cardcanr not be taken from; the'discard but must be drawngbythe player using it.

PenaZtyrFIf-the hand ends and a player does not; have a clear handlfi points-arersuba,

I tracte tirom his score; i he. 95 sco e he is given a minus 5 score. A clear hand is understood to contain only cards of one suit as ships for example but devoid of aeroplanes or automobiles. The penalty does not relate to any of the honor cards.

The bank card can not be matched with one suit card to make a pair with which to buy a discarded captain. Also the bank card can not be included in the same combination of three to complete a hand.

If the bank card is drawn early in the game it is advisable not to use it to complete a combination or pair, but to reserve it to be employed as the last card needed to complete the hand, since'it may be substituted i'or any other card in the deck except a capain of a suit.

lwicc of suits--Each player should immediately decide after the first card is drawn which suit is to he saved and begin to discard other suits, for the play may end before his hand can be cleared, causing a penalty on the player. Each player secretly decides which suit he is going to save and does not'announee it. v

Rules for two or three pZag e'rs. The only difference from the method "followed by four players is inthe starting of the game.

If three are to play two blanks are removed from the directors cards, using only six when they are delt around.

11" two are to play, four blanks are removed from the directors cards, and four are delt out to start the game.

In each case whether two or three play, the cards are delt by the'wholesalerinto four piles of twenty each; the retailer being number one and the other piles numbered to the right, two, three, and four, regardless of the positions of the players at the table. Each player using the number of the supply base in front of him, and the game is then carried on according to the rules for i our players. hen two are playing it is preferable to sit opposite each other at the table, thus one would be number one and the other number three with piles numbers two and four one to either side of the table.

I claim:

1. A card game consisting of a plurality of suit cards, a plurality of honor cards, and a plurality of directional cards, the last men tioned cards indicating the players who initiate the game. 7

2. A card game consisting of a plurality ofsuit cards having indicia thereon illustrating modes of conveyance, a plurality of honor cards having indicia thereon designating certain industries, grains and fruits, and directional cards for indicating the players who initiate the game.

8. A card game consisting of a purality of suit cards having indicia thereon illustrating modes of conveyance, a plurality of honor cards having indicia thereon designating certain industries, grains and fruits, and directional cards for indicating the players who initiate the game, the suit cards including a specially designated card having a greater value in a play than the other suit cards.- the honor cards including a series cards having a greater value in a play than the other honor cards. A card game consisting of a plurality iit cards having indicia thereon illusring modes of conveyance, a plurality of honor cards having indicia thereon designat ng certain industries. grains and fruits, and directional cards for indicating the players who initiate the game the suit cards including a specially designated card havin a greater value in a play than the other suit cards, the honor cards including a series of cards having a greater value in a play than the other honor cards, the suit cards also including a card for each se es which may be substituted for any one of the suit cards of a predetermined series.

5. A card game consisting of a plurality of suit cards having indicia thereon illustrating modes of conveyance, a plurality of honor cards having indicia thereon designating certain industries, grains and fruits, and directional cards for indicating the players who initiate the game including a card for each series which may be substituted for any one of the suit cards of a predetermined series.

6. A card game consisting of a plurality of suit cards having indicia thereon illustrating modes of conveyance, a plurality of honor cards having indicia thereon designating certain industries, grains and fruits, and directional cards for indicating the players who initiate the game, two or more cards of the honor series of like designation having a predetermined value, while three or more cards oi the suit series having a predetermined value in the final count of the game.

7. A card game consisting of a plurality of suit cards, a plurality of honor cards, and a plurality of directional cards, the last mentioned cards indicating the players who initiate the game, the suit cards including a specially designated card having a greater value in a play than the other suit cards, the honor cards including a series of cards hav ing a greater value in a play than the other honor cards.

8. A card game consisting of a plurality of suit cards. a plurality of honor cards, and a plurality oi directional cards, the last mentioned cards indicating the players who initiate the game, the suit cards including a specially designatedcard having a greater value in a play than the other suit cards, the honor cards including a series of cards having a greater value in a play than the other honor cards. the suit cards also ineluding a card for each series which may be substituted for any one of the suit cards of specially designated card having a greatervalue in a play than the other suit cards, the honor cards including a series of cards having a greater value in a play than the other honor cards, the suit cards also including a card for each series which may be substituted for any one of the suit cards of a predetermined series and directional cards for indicating the players who intiate the game.

10. A game of cards consisting of a plurality of honor cards arranged in predetermined series, each series comprising a definite number of cards relating to a class of objects, and each card of the class being distinguished from the other cards of the class by an illustration representing an individual of the class, the cards representing values in groups of two or more, one series of the honor carols having a greater value than the cards of the other series, and suit cards com posed of a plurality of series of cards illustrating various subcombinations of a general class of objects, and a card which when employed being effective to increase the final count, one of the suit cards of each series having indicia distinguishing the same as a substitute for any of the suit cards of a series, the suit cards being prescribed values in groups of three or more of each series.

HERBERT THOMAS COX. 

